GORHAM, Maine – Junior Saimir Zepaj (Peabody, Mass.) scored a pair of first-half goals as the visiting Salem State University Vikings built a 4-1 lead and went on to defeat the University of Southern Maine 5-2 in a non-conference men's soccer match Tuesday afternoon at Hannaford Field.

            The win was the sixth straight for the Vikings, and improved their record to 10-5-1.  The Vikings are 9-1-1 in their last 11 matches following a 1-4 start.  The Huskies dropped their fourth consecutive match to slip to 4-13-0.

            With the Vikings hanging on to a 2-1 advantage midway through the opening 45 minutes, Zepaj blasted a 15-yard right-footed shot past USM senior goalkeeper Jeremy Turner (Portland, Maine/Deering) in the 26th minute.  Zepaj netted his second marker of the match, and seventh of the season, seven minutes later with a flick over Turner to make it 4-1.  Junior Eryk Fernandez (Nipomo, Calif.) picked up the lone assist on both goals.

            Sophomore Mazen Aljari (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) scored both goals for Southern Maine.  Aljari scored his first goal just 21 seconds after the Vikings had taken a 1-0 lead on a score by senior Carlos Escobar (Malden, Mass.) in the 15th minute.  Aljari outran two Viking defenders to get to a ball played over the top by sophomore Nat LeBlanc (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) and touch it over sophomore keeper Nondas Kargakis (Heraklion, Greece).

            Aljari scored his second goal in the 52nd minute converting a through pass from freshman Adam Simpson (Scarborough, Maine/Greater Portland Christian) to cut the deficit to 4-2.

            Fernandez put the issue to rest converting a Huskies turnover in the back into his team-leading 12th goal of the season in the 78th minute.

            Junior Matt Figueiredo (Wilmington, Mass.) had the Vikings other goal, snapping the 1-1 tie in the 21 minute with an unassisted goal.

            Turner finished the match stopping four shots.  Kargakis played the first half surrendering one goal and recording three saves.  Rookie Kevin O'Loughlin (Milford, Mass.) played the second half and had one save.

            Southern Maine will close its 2012 season this Saturday (2:30 p.m.) hosting Little East Conference foe Rhode Island College.  Salem State host Fitchburg State University for a MASCAC match on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).